Family Counseling

The Whole is More than the Sum of the Parts

A family is much more than a collection of individuals. It is a complex system with a life of its own. Like a mobile hanging from ceiling, members of a family are interconnected – if one is bumped, the entire mobile is set into motion. Problems related to a tough issue like sibling rivalry don’t just affect kids – parents are impacted too. Or if a troubled adolescent is struggling with rebellion or depression, everyone else in the family may struggle too – siblings and parents both. With each disturbance of one piece of the delicately balanced family mobile, there can be a cascade of other imbalances and issues that are touched off, impacting everyone in the family.

Why Seek Therapy?

Family problems are anything but unusual – every family experiences stress and difficulty at times. Sometimes, however, tensions and conflict can become so overwhelming that everyone, especially the parents, may begin to wonder if anything can be done to make things better. Such feelings of hopelessness and frustration can put tremendous strain on relationships between family members. Problems such as sibling rivalry, adolescent rebellion, power struggles over homework and chores, and emotional distance between parents take their toll over time, seeming to feed off each other. They can develop into what feels like a frightening maze with no way out.

Family counseling offers a way out by untangling the complicated causes of tension within the family. The safe environment of the therapist’s office is a place where the conflict can be understood and addressed. I will partner with you to identify solutions to problems, establish a vision of hope for the future, and build a path to getting there. At times that path may be a straightforward one involving brief therapy, and other times it may take more time to reach your goals – but you ***can*** get there. Depending upon circumstances, family therapy sessions can involve all family members, a subset of family members, or just an individual. However, I regard the entire family as the client no matter who is in the room for a particular session.

What to Expect

I believe a good fit between therapist and client is essential to successful therapy. During our initial consultation, I will meet with you to discuss the issues your family would like to address in therapy. You will come away from this meeting with a clear sense of how we can work together. The actual course of ongoing therapy varies according to your issues and your goals. I will patiently listen to you without judgment, and will work with you to solve your family problems, deepening understanding of the issues you face and the underlying causes, and exploring ways to begin living the life you choose.